Providing a network service is disclosed. A data associated with the service is received. It is determined whether a local context associated with the service is in an active state with respect to the service. The data is redirected to another chassis, via an inter-chassis backup connection, if it is determined that the local context is not in an active state with respect to the service.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of providing a network service, comprising: receiving at a local chassis a data associated with the service; determining whether a local context associated with the service is in an active state with respect to the service; and redirecting the data to another chassis, via an inter-chassis backup connection associated with the service, in the event it is determined that the local context is not in an active state with respect to the service; wherein the inter-chassis backup connection and one or more other inter-chassis backup connections constitute a plurality of inter-chassis backup connections associated with the local chassis and connecting the local chassis and the another chassis; wherein a separate inter-chassis backup connection is provided for a separate service context associated with the local chassis.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data is received via an interface associated with a DSLAM or other customer premises equipment.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data is received via a pseudowire or other connection to a far end destination across a provider network.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data is received via an interface associated with the local context.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the local context comprises one or more of the following: a service context, a subscriber context, a service access point, and a virtual leased line.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication that direct connectivity with a destination with which the data is associated has been lost.
7. A method as recited in claim 6 , further comprising redirecting the data to the other chassis, via the inter-chassis backup connection, based at least in part on the determination that connectivity to the destination has been lost.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication to change from being in an active state to being in a standby state with respect to the service.
9. A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising sending to an upstream node associated with the data a notification that the local context has entered the standby state.
10. A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising continuing to accept and process data associated with the service, including by forwarding such data to the other chassis via the inter-chassis backup connection.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inter-chassis backup connection comprises a pseudowire.
12. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the local context comprises a context at a first provider network edge device and the other chassis comprises a second provider network edge device at a same end, with respect to the service, of a provider network with which the first and second provider network edge devices are associated.
13. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein it is determined that the local context is not in an active state with respect to the service if connectivity to a destination associated with the data has been lost.
14. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising in the event the local context is determined to be in an active state: receiving an indication that connectivity to a destination associated with the data has been lost; and redirecting the data to the other chassis, via the inter-chassis backup connection, for further delivery to the destination.
15. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising notifying a device at a far end of a provider network that the service is in the active state or the standby state with respect to the service.
16. A method as recited in claim 15 , wherein notifying comprises using targeted LDP status bits in the pseudowire control plane.
17. A network device, comprising: a first communication interface configured to receive data associated with a service; a second communication interface comprising an inter-chassis backup connection to another chassis; and a processor coupled to the first and second communication interfaces and configured to determine, with respect to a data received via the first interface, whether a local context associated with the service is in an active state with respect to the service; and redirect the received data to the other chassis, via the inter-chassis backup connection associated with the service, in the event it is determined that the local context is not in an active state with respect to the service: wherein the inter-chassis backup connection and one or more other inter-chassis backup connections constitute a plurality of inter-chassis backup connections associated with the local chassis and connecting the local chassis and the another chassis: wherein a separate inter-chassis backup connection is provided for a separate service context associated with the local chassis.
18. A system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first communication interface comprises a network interface.
19. A system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first communication interface comprises a pseudowire.
20. A system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the inter-chassis backup connection comprises a pseudowire.
21. A system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the system comprises an edge switch or router.
22. A computer program product for providing a network service, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for: receiving a data associated with the service; determining whether a local context associated with the service is in an active state with respect to the service; and redirecting the data to another chassis, via an inter-chassis backup connection associated with the service, in the event it is determined that the local context is not in an active state with respect to the service; wherein the inter-chassis backup connection and one or more other inter-chassis backup connections constitute a plurality of inter-chassis backup connections associated with the local chassis and connecting the local chassis and the another chassis.
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February 27, 2007
May 25, 2010
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